Close to 30,000 people are expected to attend what has become one of Pacific Beach’s signature events: The fifth annual Pacific Beach Hot Rod and Classic Car Show on Sunday, Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Garnet Avenue between Mission Boulevard and Dawes Street.

Presented by Sycuan Casino and hosted by Steve Lordigyan, the free event, will showcase hundreds of hot rods and classic cars, along with special guest, actress Catherine Bach, who played “Daisy Duke” on “The Dukes of Hazzard.”

Also featured at the car fest will be The Real General Lee from “The Dukes of Hazzard,” the authentic “Christine” Car from the Stephen King novel and movie of the same name and The Mystery Machine from the “Scooby Doo” cartoon.

The car show will be packed with live entertainment. There will be a bikini contest hosted by Hollywood Tans, an engine blow-up contest and flames shooting 30 feet out from “Wild Thang.”

Playboy model Pilar Lastra, Hooters girls, and comedy, magic and dance are also on the event’s agenda.

The hot rod and car classic is a can’t-miss, said Lordigyan.

“We’re hoping to drive business to downtown Pacific Beach,” said Lordigyan, who is a car fancier and owns his own Dodge Charger General Lee.

Though accounts differ, more than 250 General Lees were used to film the TV series. Approximately 17, in various states of repair, still exist.

One of those remaining is owned by Bach, who currently stars on the TV soap opera “The Young and the Restless,” with a new movie, “Book of Fire,” coming out soon.

Catching up with Bach in a phone interview, she said a lot has happened in her life and career since “The Dukes of Hazzard” wrapped in 1985.

“I am so lucky that something I did resonated with the American public. I feel blessed to have had that in my life and I honor that,” Bach said. “I am thrilled that people like that show.”

Since the show, Bach’s been married, has two now-teenage daughters and has been widowed.

She’s also continued her career as an actress. In her current role on “The Young and the Restless,” Bach said she plays a “calculating con artist” of a mother.

Bach’s also got a new line of clothing and jewelry out that she’s marketing at www.catherinebach-.com and www.cootersplace.com, the headquarters of Hazzard Nation.

Bach said she’s also writing a book about being a widow that’s due out next year. Though she’s uncertain of the exact title, she described it as a “widow’s handbook.”

A showman and promoter, Lordigyan said his hope is that the classic hot rod and car show “will help out some of the merchants” in PB.

He said some of the car event’s proceeds will also go toward charity.

“That’s always fun to do,” Lordigyan said, adding the show, which will take up about four blocks between Mission Boulevard and Dawes Street, will have 200-plus vehicles, as well as vendor booths offering auto-related products and services.

If you like fast cars, attractive women and fun times, then the Aug. 18 Pacific Beach Hot Rod and Classic Car Show is the place to be, Lordigyan said, promising, “We’ll have stages with performers and streets filled with people.”